Vol. 9 No. 6(J) (2017)

The study discussed the dynamics of FDI in Hungary during the period from 1991 to 2015. The impact of FDI, FDI trends and determinants of FDI in Hungary were discussed. Empirical literature observed that FDI positively influenced economic growth in Hungary through boosting human capital development levels, total factor productivity, economic transformation, innovation, research and development, additional capital in the economy, modern technology, increased volume of additional capital and technology transfer. The study also revealed that most of the net FDI inflow into Hungary originated from developed countries and the least FDI net inflow came from transitional economies during the period under study. The general trend of FDI net inflow into Hungary followed a mixed pattern, with some years experiencing a positive net FDI inflow whilst other years were characterised by negative net FDI inflows. What is clear however is that FDI net inflow was consistently positive and experienced a positive growth following the integration of Hungary into the EU bloc of countries? The accession of Hungary into the EU removed barriers for the movement of capital, people, goods and services within the EU, reduced the cost of doing business and improved trade openness. These are the key locational advantages of FDI which improved FDI inflow into Hungary for a sustained period of time after the EU accession. The study also empirically tested the determinants of FDI in Hungary using the OLS multiple regression model with data ranging from 1991 to 2015. In contradiction to most previous studies on the subject matter, trade openness and financial development were found to have had a negative influence on FDI. The study also observed that inflation had a positive influence on FDI, contrary to Sayek (2009) who revealed that higher inflation levels erodes the foreign investors’ profits, thereby making the host country not an attractive investment destination. However, exchange rate, education and economic growth had a positive but non-significant impact on FDI in Hungary, consistent to both theoretical and empirical literature. The implication of the study is that the Hungarian authorities are urged to design and implement policies aimed at improving education and economic growth in order to attract more FDI. Practical steps need to be taken by the Hungarian authorities in making sure that the value of the local currency is not overvalued and that trade openness is controlled and managed so that it does not reach a point where it begins to negatively affect FDI inflows.

This article analyzed the role of competitive intelligence in trade facilitation in Zimbabwe, whose economy depends largely on exports of unprocessed minerals and tobacco among others to international markets. This study has been carried out when the country is facing persistent trade deficits as well as a number of trade complexities.This article was informed by both deductive and inductive approaches with an econometric model being developed to analyse the relationship between economic growth (GDP) and trade. A multiple regression analysis was used to measure this phenomenon using secondary data that was extracted from World Banks databases for the period 1975-2015. This analysis was then followed by a literature review of some identified peer-reviewed, published articles and documents that necessitated the development of a conceptual framework. The framework complemented the findings of the regression model.The special role of trade in economic development was analyzed using an econometric model with a positive correlation of 0.8045 obtained. An F -value equal to 34.86 was also obtained which is much greater than 1 thereby suggesting that the hypothesis H0 is false. This was also confirmed by the p -value of 0.000000002526< 0.05. The coefficient of determination R_2 , also known as the _multiple R__2 , expresses the proportion of total variance explained by the independent variables and in this case an R2 of 0.647224 shows that the model was able to explain approximately 64.72% of the variation embedded in GDP. Competitive intelligence has been identified as a critical component in trade facilitation with positive effects on growth of trade, economy growth and development. It was also found that competitive intelligence enhances trade facilitation and hence its role cannot be overemphasized. This article is, however, of great significance to policy-makers, researchers and the academia.

A theoretical model to measure managerial competence was developed by evaluating two previous models with similar aims. In addition to the original eight management competencies, another eight competencies were identified and applied to determine the management competencies needed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution with its fast-changing business environment. The article narrows down eleven management competencies and develops measuring criteria for each; in total 42 criteria. The eleven business competencies are leading change, cultural intelligence, team building, conflict management, communication skills, a global leader mindset, emotional intelligence, career awareness, personal value system, and external and ethical influences. The model is a theoretical model and presents management competencies relevant to the modern business environment. The value of this study resides in a strong theoretical basis for postmodern business environmental skills that managers need to maintain completeness of their organizations as well as providing a sound point of departure for other researchers of managerial competence.

The purpose of this article is to present evidence of a study conducted in two provinces of South Africa and one in China. The study investigated the effectiveness of the support mechanism for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and how government support agencies are making strides in providing this support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with branch managers, a project director and business advisors. It emerged from the findings that efforts are being made to provide valuable support to small businesses. It further emerged that small businesses still face challenges such as lack of access to funding, market to serve, lack of a one-stop office and the unwillingness of service providers to enter into contract with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (more relevant to the South African situation).It is recommended that financial service providers partner with SME support agencies.

In thispaper, we analyze Inflation Dynamics in Algeria between 2002 and 2016. We use a Vector Auto Regressive model (VAR), impulse response functions (IRF) and variance error decomposition (VDC) to uncover possible links between public spending component sand inflation. Wetest for the sources and dynamics of inflation in Algeria by focusing on public spending, since they are expected to exert a strong influence on the aggregate demand and hence inflation. According to the results we found, inflation in Algeria is persistent; shocks are lasting longer and having impact on the future inflation path. Social transfers and equipment spending are found to be the most contributing components of public spending in explaining inflation in Algeria.

Administrators are an important human resource in Higher Education because they perform various duties that are critical to the daily operations of universities. In light of this, organisational commitment and job satisfaction of administrators are essential for the efficiency and effectiveness of universities. Notwithstanding the critical relevance and necessity of organisational commitment and job satisfaction, there is evidence of paucity of research on these areas among administrative staff in the South African higher education sector. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between organisational commitment and overall job satisfaction on the organisational commitment of administrators at a university in Gauteng. To achieve the aforementioned objective, a quantitative survey approach was used to examine the relationship between overall job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The selfadministered structured questionnaires were issued to 383 administrative staff members. Descriptive statistics was utilised to assess the levels of both organisational commitment and job satisfaction, results of which revealed that administrators were satisfied with and committed to the university. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis showed that there was a strong correlation between affective commitment and job satisfaction; and moderate correlations between job satisfaction and moral imperative. Similar strong correlation was observed between indebted obligation and job satisfaction. Conversely, a weak correlation occurred between job satisfaction and continuance commitment. Regression coefficients indicated that job satisfaction contributed positively to the prediction of affective commitment, moral imperative, indebted obligation and continuance commitment. Based on these findings, the recommendations and future research opportunities were suggested.

The study examined a comparative analysis of monetary policy shocks and exchange rate fluctuations based on evidence from the two largest economies in Africa (Nigeria and South Africa) – from 1985 to 2015. Data were derived from various sources which include the National Bureau of Statistics, the Central Banks reports and the World Bank database. Vector Autoregressive (VAR) Analysis was used as the estimation technique. The results indicated that the foreign interest rate in South Africa had higher variations in the short-run. While in the long-run, foreign interest rate has higher percentage variations to exchange rate. In Nigeria the world oil price has the higher influence on exchange rate both in the short-run and longrun periods. Based on these results, the study then recommended that the monetary authorities and policymakers in both countries encourage external currency inflows into the economy.

The South African National Credit Regulator is responsible for the regulation of credit industry, registration and training of debt counsellors, enforcement and monitoring compliance of the provisions of the National Credit Act. The aim of this paper is therefore to analyse the perceptions of the National Credit Regulator on the usefulness of debt counselling process in South Africa. A qualitative approach, which was exploratory in nature, was adopted for this study. Ten employees from the National Credit Regulator’s office were interviewed. There was no evidence that debt counsellors were managing the debt counselling service effectively. It was also observed that the debt counsellors received insufficient support from the National Credit Regulator. The paper recommends that the National Credit Regulator should adequately support the debt counsellors so that they can effectively manage debt counselling service and ultimately assist the overindebted consumers. Debt counsellors training curriculum should also be outcomes- based approach with exposure to business management.

This study offers exploratory analysis on the relationship among human capital, higher education enrolment and economic growth in SSA countries. With data from twenty-two African countries across the four economic blocs, five variables which include human capital formation, capital stock, employment rate, total factor productivity and higher education enrolment were regressed against gross domestic product per capital. Panel analysis which includes fixed and random effects analyses were carried out. We report results from fixed effect (within) regression as Hausman test suggests. It was discovered that SADC countries perform better among the four economic blocs. To further study individual country specific effects, we employ least square dummy variables (LSDV). Sixteen countries out of twenty-two exhibit specific effects. Our findings revealed that enrolment rate of higher education in SSA have a very weak relationship with economic growth in the SSA countries. This reflects why there is a weak relationship between economic growth and the total factor productivity and consequently negative consequential effects on our total factor productivity. The main policy implication is that for SSA countries to maintain sustainable economic growth, home based human capital must be given a priority in the form of increased higher education budget and financing.

Gender inequality has been in existence in as much as the humans themselves. The South African women and girls like many other societies around the world are also suffering from the lack of opportunities whilst men still receive favorable treatment. The government of South Africa engaged in the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as part of empowerment projects for the Black people since the attainment of democratic rule in 1994. Entrepreneurship continues to play an integral role in the South African economy as well as the economies of many developing countries around the world. The creation of new Small and Medium businesses activities contributes to economic growth, job creation, better livelihood of people involved and the communities which surround them. However, there has been a lack of women participation in entrepreneurship businesses in South Africa. Women continue to shy away from starting SMEs. Research reveals that an approximately 6, 2 percent of South African adult women were involved in SMEs in 2015. This is an appalling situation if South Africa is going to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG, goal number five encourages States to ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’. The aim of this paper is to identify challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in South Africa, which makes their survival difficult within a patriarchal society.The empirical analysis is based largely on data from information available from sources such as journals, dissertations, thesis, books, conference reports, internet sources, and policy briefs relating to women and entrepreneurship.